Pastor Jason Lim - Pray Like Jacob

Описание: When I was a young boy, I was really naughty. I fought a lot. I boxed my friend, I punched out his tooth. I teared out his pockets. I was a naughty boy - I wrestled a lot. But how many of us have heard of this phrase 'wrestling with God'? It is quite an interesting description but that is what I found in the book of Hosea and chapter 12. In verse 3 and verse 4, God says: "He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us".

It is an intriguing, fascinating passage. It describes that encounter between Jacob and the angel of the Lord - God himself at the River Jabbok. And there in Genesis 32, we are told that Jacob wrestled with God. Fascinating! And there are great truths that are found in this encounter. I think this is a passage about prayer because in Hosea chapter 12 verse 4 the Bible says: "he wept and made supplication unto him". It is a picture of prayer and what a beautiful picture of prayer this is.

Prayer is like wrestling with God and it does teach me even today how I should pray. Because prayer is hard work. When I fought as a young boy, it was hard work. I was all geared and agitated and ready for it but I would be panting, I would be exerting all my strength. And that is what it means to pray, isn't it? It is not something we do or something we ought to do when we are sleepy or drowsy. It is not something we leave to the last thing where we have just that last ounce of wakefulness or energy left.

The Bible reminds me that it is the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man that avails much. It is that hot, hot prayer that avails much so this is a great picture of prayer. It reminds me that prayer is really hard work.

I also see that prayer needs persistence. Spiritual, godly prayers ought to be persistent. We ought not give up, we ought to keep on praying, we need to keep on asking and seeking and knocking. Why? Because our God is a giving God: and far from giving up, we should be persisting, because he delights to give in us. Jacob wrestled, prayed unto God till the breaking of dawn. He persisted in his prayer so this is a great picture of prayer.

I have more to share with you but maybe I will leave it to the next time. But think about this: wrestling with God - a beautiful picture of prayer - how it must be hot, fervent, effectual and how it needs to be persistent. May God bless you and encourage you in your prayer life as you draw nearer to Jesus. God bless.